Wednesday, September 10, 2008

During a 24-year police career, Colin Terry has risen to the rank of chief superintendent. He was chosen to represent his force at a memorial service at Ground Zero in New York, after which he said: 'I have never felt so proud to be a British police officer.'

The 48-year-old father of two is currently on leave from his secondment to an EU mission training police in Afghanistan, where the Taliban is a constant threat.

All of which makes it hard to understand why, days before the anniversary of the September 11 atrocities, he chose to attend his village's carnival dressed as Osama Bin Laden.

Spectators were left aghast at the sight of the officer wearing robes and a mask of the master terrorist.